Minty Gold - OOTD

I know it's been a while since I've done an outfit. I may have another lag coming up as our house is soon to be a construction zone for a new kitchen. Then again I don't have many excuses since the weather has been surprisingly pleasant here in the OH.

Majority of my clothes were from my trip to Chicago a couple weeks ago.

Jacket - Top Shop

Mint Rhinestone tank - Top Shop

Boyfriend Cropped Jeans- Express

Gold and Silver Heels - Top Shop

Owl Earrings - Thread

Necklace - Dongdaemon Korea

Watch - Baby G

 

I was ecstatic to find these shoes and even better they were on sale for $70, the last pair and in my size. It was like the fashion gods knew we were meant to be together. I'd been lusting for something patent silver or gold since fall and these are hitting all the right marks.

To go along with my current obsession of mint and gold I got my first gel manicure in my proclaimed colors for the season. I went to Elli Nail spa per my friend Amie's suggestion and was very happy with the service and the finished product. My nails have still been flaking since the harsh acrylics I had for  my wedding and normal polish just wasn't cutting it anymore with how tough I am on my fingers. The gel is thicker and stronger so I'm less likely to snag an edge or have chipping.

Hope you all have a great weekend! I have some good stuff lined up to show you next week!
Cheers!

Welcome to Instagram

Now with the release of Instagram for the Droid I have jumped the bandwagon. It's so easy now to take those instant photos with just my camera phone. The quality isn't as good but it works for the instant. I like to think of it as digital Polaroids where the quality isn't so great but the memories are there. It captured my weekend in Chicago pretty decently but I also have photos from my DSLR to upload. That is the other convenient thing of this whole Instagram is that I don't have to pull out additional cords or mess with a SD card to bring it up on the web Instantly.

A new shape of eyeliner that I've been dabbling with. It makes me look a little bitchy and I am OK with that.

The now classic feeling of vintage Singer sewing machine wall from All Saints now open in Chicago.

My new buddy Gustav the Ram but I like to call him a Goat because it works better with his name.

My new shoes from Top Shop for only $70 on sale! this picture doesn't even do their shine justice.

The other nice thing about Instagram is that is much easier for me to remember to take progress photos of work that I have been doing. I certainly don't think I could do a very intensive tutorial with them but I like to be able to look back at different stages of progress. I can also take a snapshot to post as soon as I finish a work, then I can go back and DSLR it for a quality blog post.

My weaving from class before I took it off the loom.

Bruised #2 Embroidery

 

Scab #2 Embroidery

 

Scab #1 Embroidery

Beading loom work that I started the other night.

Yup you can get a lot shared via Instagram but I'm still working on my photography skills so I get better images for the blog without relaying on pretty filters. I'm going to try and limit myself to no more then one post a week that uses my instagram photos. Otherwise you can see them on this Tumblr, or off my Twitter.

Another Chicago Day

Chicago's weather threw me for a loop (ha ha get it? Chicago, Loop).  Anyways I thought it would be toasty hot there but turned out to be quite chilly.  Luckily I over packed and so I wore layers upon layers to keep my wee self warm.  On my way to Chicago I actually turned back about 15 minutes onto the highway to go back and get this Navy Cardigan and am I ever glad I did!

This is what I was initially going to wear then I walked outside.

And then I came back in and put on some pants.

Navy Cardigan from Anthropologie

Knot Heart belt from UO

RVCA Storm dress from Karmaloop

Grey American Apparel tank dress

Express Re-Rock Bootcut jeans

Sam Edelman gladiator Sandals

Turquoise stone ring from Anthropologie

Strawberry (Ichigo) Head necklace from Hazel by Haoshi

My Friend took me to some of her favorite spots in Chicago such as this Cereal Bar/Seafood restaurant.

Then to the Margie's Candies

My one request for this trip was to hit Kuma Corner!

 

A most delicious burger as big as my face!

I got the "Lair of the Minotaur"

Caramelized Onions, Pancetta, Brie, Bourbon Soaked Pears

Before the Road

Sorry I've been a bit MIA over the past week.  I truly wasn't here.  I was amidst great friends in Chicago prepping for my Best Friends Wedding that happened this past Sunday.  I had the privilege of being the Maid of Honor, or as I like to call it Bitch of Honor.  I love my best friend a lot.  I ran back and forth in the city, parking cars, running errands and keeping her cool. It was also pouring rain was I was doing these tasks.  I drove in from Columbus, Ohio Wednesday night.  We met to run some errands and do dinner then I drove off to a friends apartment in Wrigleyville where I stayed till the rehearsal on Saturday.  Before I left this was the outfit that I was wearing.  Something a little casual and fun.

Drapey Navy Cardigan from Anthropologie
Tokidoki VS Marvel Spiderman Shirt
Navy American Apparel knit mini skirt
Harajuku lovers Yellow Jelly Wedges from DSW

 

Close up of my lovely shoes.  If you look for these get them in a size larger then your normally wear.  They are a bit narrow at the front and run all around a little small.  Since they are rubber they will not stretch with your feet.  I got these as a present to myself for my past birthday since DSW was so kind of give me a little discount.

I have a few more posts to make from my Chicago Trip.  Sorry these is nothing on sewing at the moment.  Currently my studio space is a wreck.  It is situated in the basement where we have a non-functional Air Conditioner that is being replaced tomorrow.  In preparation for that all the shelving and storage normally surrounding the HVAC and A/C was displaced to my area.  I'd be lucky to find my scissors in that mess.  On top of the missing AC we found our one and only bathroom to be severely clogged and turns out we need to get our main-stack water line replaced completely.  Now the final kicker I caught a cold of course while running around in the rain.  I am a tad miserable and going to work on some hand sewing projects till after the Midwest Craft Caucus.

If everything goes without a hitch in the house tomorrow for repairs we will be hosting Grace Dobush writer of Crafty SuperStar during the Craft Caucus.  I'm very excited about this!

TiLT

Having been in Chicago once again this past weekend I have many things that happened that I love and I hope to experience over again and again.

1. Megabus.  Or should I refer to it as the reason why I love it, Cheap transportation.  Once upon a time when I was in college airfare cost a mere $90 for a roundtrip ticket from Chicago to Columbus.  Nowadays I'd be lucky to get a round trip ticket for under $200.  It is classier then a Greyhound Bus, double deck buses are fun to ride on for the adventurous, cheap, It has free wifi and 2 outlets per each row of seats.  It was also had some great timing such as leaving at 10:50pm Friday and Arriving at 6:30am Saturday.  They also make a pitstop so you can grab a bite to eat at Mcdonalds and use the restroom there instead of the one on the bus.

2. Chicago itself, duh.  This trip now having my new DSLR I felt I could take the time and appreciate taking some great photos of the city and the immense buildings.  I already have some fierce images in my mind that I want to photograph the next trip. Mostly the fountains that I enjoyed as a college student there.  Fountains in Chicago hold so many fond and relaxing memories for me.

3. Spring.  The new buds right before they bloom is one of my favorite things in spring. It is that moment right before full life and vitality.  It is like the promise of something beautiful and new.

4. High Tea.  Nothing more relaxing then being with a bunch of friends taking High Tea together in a posh hotel lobby.  Chatting the hours away while consuming delicious finger foods and desserts.  The macaroons and Meringues were heavenly!  We took our High Tea at the Lobby at The Peninsula Hotel

5. Using a Diana Lens for DSLR.  One of my early Birthday present from Andy before my trip was the Diana Lens from Photojojo with DSLR attachment.  It was really hard to get back into a full manual setting mode in my head but once I did the photos were wonderful!  Dreamy and a little blurred but in the good way that Diana cameras are known for. 

6. Taking beauty in the mundane.  This was just a simple photo I took at Tea but I love how it turned out.  Ordinary objects all around us having their own beauty in design and placement.

TiLT - Chicago Edition

About two weeks ago I was in Chicago for a friend's birthday but also for my best friend's bridesmaid dress fittings.  While we were there I got to relive some of the things I've missed since I moved away from that City.  This is my tribute to those things that I miss and love.

1. The Art Institute of Chicago Museum.  To most people the out entrance is what they first think of but to me the art doesn't start until you are inside the building by those stairs.  They are like the cross-ways of time for me.

2. The Armory Room at the Art Institute of Chicago.  I could spend hours upon hours in that room looking at all the intricate metal work and the way things are jointed together.

 

3.  Millenium Park - It's just a great park, even though it was snowing we still got in our obligatory "bean" photos.  During the summertime it is a bumping place to be with live music, shows and just gorgeous the way it connects directly to the museum now with it's bridge into the modern art wing.

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3. China Town Dimsum at Phoenix & Bubble Tea from Joy Yee's.

Phoenix is hands down still my favorite dim sum place in the midwest.  These Crab balls are HUGE and each has their own claw.  Can't get much better then that.  Joy Yee's has the best bubble teas I've EVAH.  They use only real fruit in all their mixes none of this powder tea business.  Every time we get dim sum we have to finish it off with bubble tea at Joy Yee's.

 4. Japanese Candy Store Aji Ichiban. This one is located in the Chicago "new" China town section.  They have pretty much candy for every single taste you have including my favorites of dried mango chunks and fish jerky.  Then you have more "normal" things like lychee jellies and pop fizzes.

5. Love- in all forms with my fiancee and friends.  Nothing is better then traveling to see friends or with friends and sharing those special memories.  It was a most excellent weekend!

You Win Some you Dim Sum

I don't normally ever talk about food on here since I'm not really a good type but I gotta tell you Dim Sum is one of my favorite ways to eat!  It is also surprisingly inspirational to me in the shapes and colors that all these delectable foods come in.   It happened to be the week of Chinese Lunar new year when my friends and I went.  If you live under a rock and had no idea this is the year of the Rabbit.

 

Of course there was a Lion Dance going on during the more annoying time ever.  Leave it to poor planning and gloomy outside weather to make everyone uncomfortable for about 20 mins as a completely non-asian troupe performed a traditional dance to the best of their abilities.  You gotta give them a gold star for effort. The Lion Costume is always a great inspiration with the vivid colors, the comical shapes of the eyes and mouth and the ingenuity to fit so many people and coordinate them together.

 One of these dishes is my favorite thanks to fond childhood memories of reading Ranma 1/2.  It's not the Chicken feet! But the color on those toes is really an amazing orange.  From left to right clockwise we have BBQ pork buns, Chicken Feet, Spare ribs and Tripe.  My favorite is BBQ Pork buns because I remember all those fights Ranma and Ryoga had over them at the school cafeteria which is why Ryoga set out to follow Ranma for revenge and ultimately became cursed as P-chan the adorable baby black pig.  Yup I'm a nerd and it's ok check out the Wiki for Ranma 1/2 here.

Back to the food, check out the trip in the lower left corner, that creamy palette with the sprigs of green onion and you can see a little of the spiky looking bits reminds me of a sea urchin.  The knobby looking spare rib to the lower right reminds me of bobble stitches in knitting.

This Egg Custard was not only super delicious and buttery but the color and shape make me want a ring bejeweled with little yellow lacquer pools clustered together.

This was towards the end.  You can see we did a pretty thorough job eating the vast majority of it.  By the time we left there was nothing left on a single plate.  The friend Taro root at the back far right is another favorite of mine.  It has a super delicate shell on the outside that looks like some masterful lace work that just crumbles as you eat it.  I imagine I am eating a masterpiece every time I eat one of those.

Typically after Dim Sum it is followed by an extended food coma on the couch where I brainstorm and sometimes sketch ideas.  Perfect mind and belly feed to get the creative juices flowing.
If you are wondering where in the world this is, it is simply Sunflower on North Sawmill Road.  They even have the wonderful cart service that I love!  In Chicago my favorite Dim Sum restaurant is Phoenix in China town close to the new section.